“The child by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth” UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Courage Conference

Courage, the counselling service for homosexuals and lesbians who struggle to live a chaste life, is holding a conference in Illinois, from 4 to 7 August next.The conference is dedicated to the memory of Fr. John Harvey, the founder of the organisation.Among those taking part in the conference, and who will address the participants, are Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Thomas Olmsted, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Jeffrey Keefe, Fr. Paul Scalia, Sean Stevens, Ph.D., and others.

During the year, Courage holds clergy study conference days.At these study days the question of same-sex attraction is addressed from four perspectives – theological anthropology (the natural moral law and Church teaching on homosexuality); psychological sciences (presented by an MD or PhD who works with Courage); a witness talk (a testimonial by a Courage member); and a talk specifically about the Courage organisation itself.

Fr. Paul Check, the Director of Courage, says that he believes,

‘as Fr. Harvey did, that the testimonials of our members are among the most powerful means the Church has to engage the world in a complex, controversial but very personal discussion, and to bring the light of truth and the grace of peace to many minds and hearts.Please pray for Our Lord’s guidance and Our Lady’s mantle of charity, purity, and humility.’

In Europe, too, we urgently need such action, and prayer, to counteract the proliferation and the spread of the homosexual movement’s many activities.

Pat Buckley

I was born in Galway, Ireland where I attended first Scoil Fhursa and then St Ignatius (Jesuit) College. My family moved to Cork in 1960 and I spent my last year at the Christian Brothers College in Mc Curtain street Cork (CBC).

I came to Dublin in 1963 where I met and married my wife Philomena. We have lived in Dublin since then and have been blessed with seven children and 17 grandchildren (so far). When I finished school I studied architecture through the professional institutions and I am a retired Member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (MRIAI). I also hold a BSc. in psychology and political philosophy.

I currently lobby pro-life and pro-family issues at the United Nations in New York and Geneva and occasionally at the European Parliament and Council of Europe. I am a member of the pro-life, pro-family coalition operating within the international institutions and I am a consultant to the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children SPUC on UN and related matters.

Between 1978-85, as a married couple Philomena and I were involved in the presentation of Marriage Encounter Weekends and pre-marriage courses. We also represented Worldwide Marriage Encounter on a committee for the family in the Dublin Archdiocese. Between 1985-1988. I was appointed National Secretary and then President of the Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association (CSPA). I have been lobbying pro-life issue at the UN for upwards of 12 years.

I am a past President of the National Association of Catholic Families (NACF)

Publications:

1997: Anthology of pro-life verse

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